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Gainesville war veteran gets 3 years in prison after guilty plea in 2015 state patrol shooting
Leighton Marchetta sentence may be reduced by VA mental health program for PTSD
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Lee Marchetta talks about his son, Leighton Marchetta, on Thursday afternoon outside the Hall County Courthouse concerning last year’s shooting incident at the state patrol post on Cleveland Highway. Lee Marchetta said the incident was due, in part, to his son dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. He set up a tent in the courthouse courtyard to raise awareness about PTSD, handing out literature and talking with passersby. - photo by Erin O. Smith
A Gainesville military veteran pleaded guilty Thursday in Hall County Superior Court to charges related to firing a hunting rifle at Georgia State Patrol officers last summer at the Cleveland Highway post. With recent violence between law enforcement and civilians preying on his mind, Judge Jason Deal sentenced Leighton Beaux Marchetta, 23, to three years in prison for two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. “I’ve thought a lot about this case and a lot of things come to mind,” Deal said at the sentencing hearing, noting the “tumultuous time” in America right now, with a “chaos and sickness” that has pitted law enforcement versus the public.